When God Speaks Through a Donkey: Balaam’s Strange Journey (Numbers 22:5-38)
Some stories in the Bible are so surprising, they make you stop and think twice. One of those is found in Numbers 22, where God uses a donkey to deliver a message to a man named Balaam. It’s a story full of warnings, unexpected twists, and a powerful reminder that God is always in control.
A Nervous King Sends for Help
The Israelites were traveling through the wilderness, and God had given them victory over several enemies. This made Balak, the king of Moab, very nervous. He feared that Israel would soon take over his land too. So he came up with a plan: hire a well-known prophet named Balaam to put a curse on Israel.
Balak sent messengers to Balaam with money and promises of reward if he would curse the people.
God Says No
When Balaam received the offer, he did something wise—he asked God what to do. God gave him a clear answer: “Do not go with them. Do not curse these people, because they are blessed.”
So Balaam told the messengers he couldn’t go. They returned to Balak with the bad news.
A Bigger Offer Comes
Not ready to give up, Balak sent a second group of messengers—this time, more important and with even better rewards. Balaam again asked God what to do. This time, God said he could go only if he did exactly what God told him to do.
So Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the men.
Trouble on the Road
Even though Balaam had permission to go, God was still displeased—possibly because Balaam’s heart was focused on the reward, not on doing God’s will. So God sent an angel to block his path, but Balaam didn’t see it.
His donkey did.
Three times the donkey turned away, trying to avoid the angel. Balaam didn’t understand what was happening, and each time, he beat the donkey for not doing what he wanted.
A Talking Donkey?
Then something amazing happened—God opened the donkey’s mouth, and she spoke to Balaam! She asked, “Why are you beating me? Haven’t I always been a good donkey to you?” Balaam, surprisingly, answered her as if this were normal!
Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing in the road with a sword in his hand. Balaam realized he had been blind to what was really happening.
A Change of Heart
Humbled and afraid, Balaam offered to turn back. But the angel told him to continue the journey—but only speak the words God would give him.
When Balaam finally arrived, King Balak came out to meet him. Balaam gave him a strong warning: “I can only speak what God tells me to speak.”
What We Learn From This Story
This story teaches us several important lessons:
- God sees everything—even what we don’t. Balaam was blind to the angel, but the donkey saw it clearly.
- God can use anyone to speak His message. He even used a donkey to get Balaam’s attention.
- Motives matter. Balaam may have looked like he was doing the right thing, but his heart wasn’t fully right.
- We must listen to God carefully and not be swayed by money, fear, or pressure.
Final Thoughts
Balaam’s journey reminds us that God always has the final word. No matter how powerful someone seems or how big the reward is, we must stay focused on what God wants. And sometimes, He’ll go to great lengths—even through unexpected ways—to make sure we hear Him.
So the next time life surprises you, stop and listen—you never know when God might be trying to get your attention.
Numbers 22:5-38 (WEB)
22:5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me. 6 Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.8 He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.9 God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me, 11 ‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’ ”12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”15 Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’ ”18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”20 God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path. 24 Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.26 The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.28 The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?”He said, “No.”31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”34 Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”35 The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.”So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”